Ranchi, Aug 31: State welfare department is all set to launch training programmes in nursing for youths of weaker sections of the society.

The department would offer an undergraduate programme and a diploma course to the students of Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, minority community and Other Backward Caste candidates.

Both boys and girls would be taken in the four-year BSc nursing course, which will start this year. The total intake in the course will be 60.

Another batch of 60 girls would be offered general mid-wifery and nursing (GNM) course of three-and-half year duration.

For enrolment in the BSc nursing course, the department has already received some 756 applications.

The selection process would be based on a written test followed by interview of the candidates. The procedure is expected to be over by November this year.

R.K. Ranjan, the deputy director of state tribal welfare department, told The Telegraph on Sunday that the demand of the nurses was on the rise in the state. “In the past couple of years a number of good private nursing homes have been set up. Corporate hospitals are also trying to start their operations in the state. Besides, the government also requires trained nurses and the need would grow in the future. Keeping all this in mind, we have decided to train the youths of our state into the noble profession,” Ranjan added.

For admissions into the ANM course, the department would publish the advertisements soon. A Class X pass out from the weak section of the society would be eligible for admission. The welfare department has tied up with the Bangalore-based AVK Nursing College for conducting the offered courses.